Page 3

The paper was passed to the judge, reviewed, passed back. Standard procedure, but my heart still kicked up a notch. It always did, right at this moment. The precipice before the fall.

“In the matter of Corwin versus Montana, asking the court to force the removal of the Defendant’s animals, how do you find?”

“We find in favor of the defendant, Jack Montana.”

Jack’s hand landed on my shoulder, squeezing hard. I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding and grinned.

“The jury has found that the defendant is not operating an illegal llama farm,” the judge continued, and I swore I heard a hint of amusement in her voice. “Case closed. Court is adjourned.”

The gavel came down.

“Holy shit,” Jack breathed. “We actually won.”

“Was there ever any doubt?” I turned to him, letting the satisfaction wash over me. This was the part I lived for. The moment when all the work paid off and I had the chance to see my clients drop hundreds of pounds of figurative weight from their shoulders.

“Steaks,” Jack said, pointing at me. “We’re doing steaks. The biggest, most expensive steaks in Los Angeles. My treat.”

“You’re damn right it’s your treat. Do you know how many llama names I had to memorize?”

Jack laughed, clapping me on the back. “Cheddar thanks you for your service.”

“I’m not going to ask how you came up with the names.”

“I didn’t. Chantilly did.”

“Of course.”

I shook my head, still grinning, and let my gaze drift across the aisle to the plaintiff’s table, where Lou Corwin leaned toward his attorney and spoke in low, clipped tones. He spoke with urgency and held up a hand when his attorney tried to speak. Lou wasn’t happy.

The hair on the nape of my neck suddenly rose and I glanced slightly to the right, where Darcy Corwin’s blue stare dragged me into her orbit. Her brows, nearly as blonde as her hair, drew together, and she shifted to rest her weight on one hip while crossing her arms under her breasts.

Nice. Real nice.

I tried not to stare. But damn. The woman had the kind of curves that begged a man to fall to his knees before her and worship her the way she deserved. The way it was intended.

I smiled at her. Gave her a little nod of acknowledgment and indulged in checking her out one more time.

Her glare intensified. If looks could kill, I’d be bleeding out on the courtroom floor.

I laughed. Couldn’t help it. Her jaw tightened and those pretty lips pressed even thinner.

Darcy Corwin turned away from me with deliberate slowness, shutting me down as thoroughly as I’d just shut down her father’s case.

I was still smiling as Jack dragged me toward the doors, already talking about which steakhouse we should hit.

I glanced back one more time but she wasn’t looking at me. I had a feeling she wouldn’t think about me again. Which was why I was thinking about what annoying thing Jack might do next to get his neighbor to sue him again.

Hopefully, his daughter would sit in court with him next time.

2

DARCY

Ihad spent my entire life preparing to run Corwin Gems. Apparently, that didn’t mean I knew how to protect it from my own father.

The offices of Corwin Gems occupied the twelfth floor of a sleek building in downtown LA. We weren’t flashy. We didn’t need to be. Our reputation spoke for itself.

Or it had, until yesterday.